Thursday, July 2, 2026

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• Welcome to President Bill Rosehart
• Administrators start administrating
• What can a berry growing in a bog tell us about climate change?
• How to keep your work space cool

Welcome to President Bill Rosehart 

Yesterday, Dr. Bill Rosehart began his five-year term as the University’s eighth President and Vice-Chancellor. 
 
President Rosehart is a nationally respected academic leader and scholar who brings more than two decades of senior leadership experience at major Canadian research universities, such as the University of Guelph and the University of Calgary. He is known for guiding institutions through periods of significant change with clarity, collaboration, and principled decision-making. His numerous distinctions include fellowship in the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Engineering Institute of Canada, and the Canadian Society for Senior Engineers.   

A three‑degree Waterloo engineering graduate (BASc ’96, MASc ’97, PhD ’01), President Rosehart has a deep appreciation for the University’s bold founding vision and its globally recognized integration of experiential learning, entrepreneurship, and research excellence.  

In an interview with Imprint, President Rosehart shared, “It’s a special type of homecoming. As a three-time graduate, [the University of Waterloo] holds a very special place in my heart and it always has. I’m extremely excited to be working with the students, the faculty, the staff, leaders across campus and the community to advance Waterloo even further."

“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Rosehart back to his alma mater to become the first Waterloo alum to serve as president,” said Vivek Goel, who completed his five-year term as president last week. “His track record of transformational leadership, his commitment to inclusive excellence, and his deep understanding of experiential education position him exceptionally well to guide Waterloo into its next chapter. Under his leadership, I am confident that Waterloo will continue to drive innovation and make meaningful contributions locally, nationally, and globally.”  
 
Additional information is available on the Office of the President’s website. 

Welcome, President Rosehart!

Administrators start administrating

Wednesday, July 1 marked the beginning of a number of other senior administrative terms of office at the University. 

Dr. Justin Wan — Associate Vice-President, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs

Dr. Justin Wan will begin his term as Associate Vice-President, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (AVP GSPA). He has been a member of the GSPA senior leadership team since 2023, first as an Assistant Vice-President, then alongside Professor Clarence Woudsma as Interim Co-Associate Vice-Presidents in 2024. He has held the position of Interim Associate Vice-President since 2025. Justin has been a faculty member in the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science since 2001. He has held a range of administrative roles across his career, including Director of the Centre for Computational Mathematics in Industry and Commerce, Associate Director of the Cheriton School of Computer Science, and Director of Graduate Studies in Computer Science.  

Dr. Martin Cooke — Associate Vice-President, Academic

Dr. Martin Cooke will begin his term as Associate Vice-President, Academic. Since 2023, Martin has served in the role of Assistant Vice-President, Leadership and Strategic Initiatives within the Office of the Vice-President, Academic, where he played a central part in convening the Academic Leadership Program and in shaping the University’s strategic direction through leadership positions on several key committees. 

Dr. Shannon Majowicz — Interim Director, School of Public Health Sciences

Dr. Shannon Majowicz, who joined the University of Waterloo in 2012, will be serving as Interim Director of the School of Public Health Sciences for a one-year term. She takes over from Dr. Ellen MacEachen, whose term as Director ended June 30. The School’s nominating committee will resume its mandate in the fall.

Dr. Tracy Penny Light — President, United College

Dr. Tracy Penny Light begins a five-year term as President of United College. Dr. Penny Light previously served as Interim Vice-President, Academic and Provost in the President’s Office at Capilano University in British Columbia. She brings extensive senior leadership experience in higher education, with a strong background in teaching, academic research, student success and innovation, and stakeholder engagement. Dr. Penny Light is also a Waterloo alumnus, having completed her PhD and established her academic teaching career at the University. 

What can a berry growing in a bog tell us about climate change?

This article was originally published on Waterloo News.

As a child growing up in Labrador, Tara Ryan would go picking bakeapple berries with her parents and grandparents. Ryan grew up in a community in central Labrador and looked forward to participating in these picks.

Bakeapple berries, also known as appet and cloudberries, are an important traditional food and sustenance for Inuit in the north. The berries continue to be a part of cultural practice and promote community well-being.

“Stories about our land and our history can tell us a lot, not just about where we’ve been but where we are going,” says Ryan, a Masters student at the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment. “I’m passionate about connecting the science I do with my heritage to better understand the impacts of climate change.”

Supported by funding from a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s Indigenous Scholars Award, Ryan is studying how environmental changes are impacting bakeapple berries, a critical and culturally relevant food source.

As temperatures warm in the summer and less snow accumulates in the winter, the yield of bakeapple is shrinking.

Recently, Ryan traveled across Labrador and connected with research participants in coastal communities to listen to their stories and better understand their shifting attitudes and berry-picking practices.

Through soil and vitamin c analysis, and interviews with community members, Ryan is shedding light on how climate and resource anxiety impacting Inuit in the region.

The research findings will be shared in ways that are relevant to Inuit communities through formal and informal presentations, maps, physical and digital posters.

“The University of Waterloo has a strong research connection to Newfoundland and Labrador,” Ryan explains. “That connection is how I found out about the University in the first place and is what drew me to study here.”

For the past 50 years, the University has been a leader in sustainability research and education, and the Faculty of Environment has been a catalyst for environmental innovation, solutions, and talent developed with the world, for the world.

While in high school, and working for her Indigenous group's natural resources team, she undertook a project identifying local natural sciences research being conducting by researchers from across Canada. The University of Waterloo kept coming up as she reviewed projects, and when it was time to apply for undergraduate studies that is where she wanted to go.

Moving between coastal communities this past summer was a full-circle moment for Ryan as she became a part of that Waterloo-Labrador connection. Even better, her research is connecting her culture with the land.

“Everyone in the Faculty of Environment is passionate about making a difference, and I am proud to make a contribution, especially in partnership with my community.”

Once she finishes her studies, Ryan is looking forward to returning to Labrador and joining CLIMAtlantic to help enhance Atlantic climate resilience. At the same time, she can't wait to go bakeapple picking with her family and friends.

How to keep your work space cool

With a heat warning in effect, here are some tips to help keep your work spaces comfortable:   

• Block the sun: Keep blinds or curtains closed in offices and meeting rooms to deflect direct sunlight and the heat. 

• Lights off: Turn off unnecessary overhead lights in areas where natural light is sufficient.

• Unplug when you can: Skip charging your phone or tablet unless it's necessary; those chargers can get warm.

• Power down: Fully shut down computers, monitors, and other electronic equipment if you are away from your desk or leaving for the day.

• Stay hydrated: Keep a water bottle at your desk and drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, even if you don't feel thirsty.

• Know the signs: Look out for yourself and others. If anyone experiences dizziness, headaches, or extreme fatigue, have them rest in a cool area and give them some water.

Waterloo empowers managers to offer flexible work arrangements in certain circumstances, such as severe weather. If you're struggling with the heat in your work area, please talk to your manager to discuss ways in which you can work flexibly in other locations. 

Thank you for doing your part to help us maintain a comfortable environment for everyone.